Shipping system for shipping glass sheets

Abstract

A shipping system for shipping planar substrates includes a plurality of planar substrates stacked to form a pack and a plurality of interleaving material including substantially spherical beads positioned between the substrates of the pack and configured to carry a load. Substantially all of the beads have a diameter within 25% of Dmax, where Dmax is a diameter corresponding to a size of an opening of an upper limit sieve used in the shipping system. Also disclosed are a spacer for use in a shipping system for shipping planar substrates, a wrapped system for shipping planar substrates, a method of wrapping a system for shipping planar substrates, and a powder applicator.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A spacer for use in a shipping system for shipping planar substrates comprising:
 an elongated portion having a first end and a second end and a first side and a second side; 
 a flange positioned at only the first end of the elongated portion and extending from the first side and forms an L-shape with the first side; and 
 a first raised area that is positioned on the first side of the first end of the elongated portion and a second raised area that is positioned on the first side of the second end of the elongated portion; 
 wherein only the first side of the elongated portion comprises a raised area; and 
 wherein the first raised area is thicker than the second raised area; 
 wherein the first raised area is a separate component from the elongated portion and present only on the first side of the elongated portion; and 
 wherein the first raised area is not connected to another raised area positioned on the second side of the first end of the elongated portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises polystyrene. 
     
     
       3. The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the first raised area and the second raised area comprise a softer material compared to the elongated portion. 
     
     
       4. The spacer of  claim 3 , wherein the softer material comprises polyethylene or polyurethane. 
     
     
       5. The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the first raised area and the second raised area are at least ⅛ inch thick. 
     
     
       6. The spacer of  claim 1 , further comprising tape covering the first raised area. 
     
     
       7. The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the elongated portion comprises a first width and the second end of the elongated portion comprises a second width, wherein the first width is larger than the second width. 
     
     
       8. The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the first end and the second end of the elongated portion comprise a first width, and a section of the elongated portion between the first end and the second end comprises a second width, wherein the first width is larger than the second width. 
     
     
       9. The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises honeycomb cardboard. 
     
     
       10. The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the first raised area and the second raised area comprise a sheet of softer material compared to the elongated portion.